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MEXICO 


l^m$I|t0  nf  (floUtmImd 

SUPREME  COUNCIIt 
New  Haven,  Conn. 

1926 


To  Battle 

The  Knights  of  Columbus  campaign  against 
the  red  peril  of  Mexico  and  its  threat  to  politic 
cal  and  religious  freedom  everywhere  is  mak- 
ing magnificent  headway.  Already,  from  all 
corners  of  the  continent  has  come  an  unbe- 
lievably vigorous  and  generous  response. 
Catholics  and  non-Cat holies,  men  and  women, 
bishops,  priests,  and  laity,  all  lovers  of  free- 
dom and  justice,  are  contributing  their  time, 
money,  thought  and  labor,  to  this  great  Chris- 
tian project.  Already  the  Christ -haters  are 
trembling.  Already,  their  propaganda  in  the 
public  press  has  grown  mute.  But  the  battle 
for  Christian  and  democratic  civilization  has 
only  begun. 

One  million  copies  of  the  pamphlet  **Red 
Mexico**  have  been  printed  and  distributed. 
A second  million  is  now  on  the  press  for  dis- 
tribution upon  request.  Any  number  of  copies 
of  this  pamphlet  will  be  furnished  free.  The 
Knights  of  Columbus  are,  furthermore,  print- 
ing and  distributing  a million  copies  of  this 
present  pamphlet.  They  will  wage  this  war 
against  radicalism  and  barbarism  to  a finish. 
All  liberty -loving  men  will  join  their  forces. 
The  project  is  too  tremendously  important  to 
allow  the  slightest  lapse  or  lull.  There  will  be 
no  weakening,  no  withdrawal,  no  failure.  The 
Knights  of  Columbus  promise  that! 


First  Edition  — One  million  copies. 


CALLESAND  HIS  FRIENDS 

The  red  regime  of  Calles  in  Mexico,  and  its 
support  by  the  American  Federation  of  Labor, 
has  won  a most  ardent  and  even  fanatical 
approval  from  the  radical  and  barbaric  fac- 
tions  of  the  United  States,  The  approval  of 
all  the  anti- Catholic  elements  of  the  United 
States  has  been  well  broadcast,  Klan  leaders, 
anti-Catholic  propagandists,  liberty -haters 
high  and  low,  everywhere,  have  spoken  loudly 
in  favor  of  the  Calles  campaign  against 
political  and  religious  freedom.  But  the  ap- 
proval  of  the  Bolshevik  demagogues  has  been 
cunningly  kept  low.  The  paragraphs  below, 
exposing  this  Bolshevist  support,  are  taken 
from  a long  article  by  David  Goldstein  in 
November  COLUMBIA, 

By  David  Goldstein 

All  the  radical  fraternities — high  brow  and  low 
brow — are  in  accord  with  the  Calles  persecution. 

“A  Calles  Wanted  Everywhere^*  cries  out  the 
Truth  Seeker  (Sept.  4th,  1926),  for  a square  deal  is 
not  wanted.  The  Klu  Klux  Klan  Fellowship  Forum 
takes  up  this  agnostic  shrill  cry  and  heads  it 
Calles  Needed  Everywhere**  for  it  makes  for  dis- 
order. Descending  lower,  the  American  Birth 
Control  League  adds  its  hoarse  voice  to  the  chorus 
of  base  desire:  President  Margaret  Sanger  editorial- 
izes on  the  ^ ^attempt  of  President  Calles  to  shake  off 
the  strangle  hold  of  a mediaeval  institution.^^  The 
tyranny  down  there  merely  indicates  “the  in- 
tensity of  the  struggle.’’  Anyway  “with  the  yoke 
of  mediaevalism  thus  thrown  off  we  can  anticipate 
a splendid  development  of  the  government  work 
for  Birth  Control  already  begun  in  Mexico.”  (Birth 
Control  Review,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  1926.) 

All  the  SociaHst  camps  are  lauding  the  little 
Napoleon  across  our  southern  border.  His  assault 
upon  human  hberty  stimulates  their  hope  of  lead- 
3 


ing  the  working  class  on  to  the  citadel  of  Marxianism  j 
on  this  side  of  the  Rio  Grande.  Norman  Thomas,  j 
a New  York  leader,  gives  the  Socialist  answer  to  | 
Americans  who  voice  a protest  against  a betrayal  i 
of  human  rights  in  Mexico: — We  ‘^donT  want  to  i 
fight  either  for  petroleum  or  piety.*'  (N.  Y.,  March  | 
20,  1926 — The  New  Leader.)  Oh,  no?  Socialists 
will  not  fight  as  Americans  for  property  rights  nor 
for  the  rights  of  civil  liberty. 

The  official  organ  of  the  Proletarian  Party  of  * 
America  sees  in  the  “Class  Struggle  in  Mexico"  ' 
just  what  all  divisions  of  the  world  revolutionists  j 
look  for  in  the  assault  there  upon  the  Catholic  j 
Church — a step  towards  the  overthrow  of  all  i 
existing  institutions  and  upon  these  ruins  the  estab-  | 
lishment  of  a Socialist  society: 

“It  is  to  be  sincerely  hoped  that  the  ! 
Calles  government  will  make  a clean  sweep  i 
of  the  feudal  rubbish  and  clear  the  path  of 
unnecessary  obstructions  for  the  onward 
march  of  the  proletarian  revolution."  ! 
(The  Proletarian,  Chicago,  Sept.  1926.)  1 

The  I.  W.  W.  rallies  its  membership  to  the  Calles  1 
standard.  Under  the  title  “TAc  Knights  Are  Crying^'  : 
(Chicago,  Sept.  1926),  the  Industrial  Pioneer  l 
surpasses  itself  in  gross  vulgarity:  ! 

“Can  anything  beat  the  supreme  gall  of  j 

Rome?  It  is  certainly  unjust  to  prevent  a i 

gang  of  foreign  overstuffed  ^merry  jokes*  on 
an  ascetic  Christ  meddling  in  the  internal 
affairs  of  a nation." 

The  Socialist  Labor  Party  is  also  on  the  side  of 
the  A.  F.  of  L.*s  “man  of  destiny"  and  against  the 
“Pohtical  Blah  Blah  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus." 
“It  is  not  the  Catholic  religion  that  is  being  per- 
secuted in  Mexico,"  it  is  a fight  to  free  the  Peons 
from  the  Capitalist  System  (The  Weekly  People, 

N.  Y.,  August  21,  1926.) 


4 


The  Workers  (Communists)  Party  adds  the 
strength  of  its  propaganda  (financed  from  Moscow) 
in  support  of  the  Calles  onward  march  towards 
Sovietism.  Oh  no,  Calles  is  not  opposed  to  religion, 
“like  Russia  he  prevents  the  pope  and  his  agents 
from  carrying  on  their  counter-revolutionary  plots, 
under  the  cloak  of  religion.”  (The  Daily  Worker, 
Chicago,  August  7,  1926.)  It  waxes  jubilant  and 
sends  a telegram : 

“Chicago,  August  12,  1926 
Plutarco  E.  Calles 
National  Palace 
Mexico  City,  Mexico. 

Workers  (Communists)  Party  pledges  whole- 
hearted support  in  struggle  against  combined 
offensive  of  Rome  and  Wall  Street. — We  will  do  all 
in  our  power  to  rally  American  workers  to  Mexico^s 
support. 

Central  Executive  Committee,  Workers  Com- 
munist Party, 

C.  E.  Ruthenberg,  General  Secretary.” 

So  at  length  it  comes  about  that  the  camp  fol- 
lowers of  two  dead  leaders — the  late  Nickolai  Lenin 
and  Samuel  Gompers — who  are  deadly  enemies  in 
matters  directly  related  to  trade  union  affairs  give 
the  glad  hand  to  Calles,  the  embodiment  of  Socialist 
philosophy  who  dominates  civil  affairs  across  our 
southern  border. 


**The  Mexican  attitude  follows  the 
pattern  of  Bolshevism  in  Russia.  It  is 
time  for  the  whole  religious  world  to  take 
stock.  The  very  element  of  civilization 
religion)  which  has  always  been  sup~ 
posed  to  deserve  encouragement  at  the 
hands  of  government  is  now  outlawed.** 
—The  Toledo  Sunday  Times 


5 


A Protestant  View 

{An  editorial  from  William  Allen  Whitens  Emporia 
Gazette^  Kansas) 

Hubert  Herring  is  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  in  America.  He  was  sent  by  a 
group  of  Protestant  chimches  to  report  conditions 
as  he  found  them  in  Mexico.  He  writes: 

^‘In  the  meantime,  the  Indian  goes  to  church. 
The  churches  of  Mexico  are  filled  with  crowds  of 
eager  worshipers.  The  Church  of  Rome  possesses 
the  heart  of  Mexico.  She  has  taught  its  children, 
and  they  turn  to  her  in  every  crisis.  They  find 
poetry  in  her  forms,  symbohsm  in  her  sacraments, 
comfort  in  her  ministry. 

hold  no  brief  for  the  Church  of  Rome.  I can- 
not accept  her  ways  of  thinking.  Nor  can  I resist 
the  majestic  sweep  of  her  appeal  to  the  thirteen 
miUion  Indians  of  Mexico.  She  has  gathered  up 
the  latent  mysticism  of  the  Indian  character,  with 
all  of  its  wealth  of  longing  and  of  feehng,  incor- 
porating in  her  service  the  symbohsm  of  the  Indian 
tradition,  purifying  it,  ennobhng  it,  and  has  forged 


**This  robbing  the  Church  of  her  pulpits 
and  her  schools  and  then  blaming  her 
for  the  ignorance  of  the  people  is  like 
shooting  a man  dead  and  then  accusing 
him  of  murder;  like  picking  a man^s 
pocket  and  then  arresting  him  for  bank- 
ruptcy; like  inoculating  a man  with 
smallpox  and  then  accusing  him  of 
being  sick.  Thus  the  government  for- 
bids the  Catholic  Church  to  teach  and 
then  accuses  her  of  fostering  ignorance: 
and  closes  all  Catholic  schools  so  that 
she  cannot  foster  ignorance  any  more!** 
The  Mirror,  Springfield 


6 


an  institution  distinctly  Mexican  in  genius.  The 
Church  of  Rome  belongs  to  Mexico. 

* ♦ * 

^This  much  is  undebatable.  Mexico  is  religious, 
passionately,  devotedly  religious.  Rehgion  will  not 
die.  The  Church  of  Rome  is  there  to  stay.  Per- 
secution, if  such  it  be,  will  not  hurt  her.  Persecu- 
tion is  always  tonic  for  institutions,  whether  they  be 
religious,  pohtical  or  social.  It  sharpens  the  wits, 
exercises  the  muscles,  stiffens  the  brain.  Out  of  it, 
the  Church  of  Rome  will  emerge  stronger  than  ever, 
not  in  buildings,  nor  in  lands,  not  in  political  power, 
not  in  secular  weight,  but  with  a stronger  hold 
on  the  affections  of  the  people,  and  with  a more 
certain  promise.’’ 

Is  it  a wonder — ^reading  this  that  your  average 
zealous  kluxer  suspects  the  Congregationalist  as 
deeply  as  he  fears  the  CathoHc.  CooHdge’s  Con- 
gregationalism makes  it  impossible  for  him — even 
for  his  party’s  sake — to  tolerate  intolerance  in  any 
form. 


you  go  down  below  San  Diego, 
California,  and  stand  at  the  border  and 
put  one  foot  in  Mexico  and  the  other  in 
the  United  States,  you  will  find  one  of 
your  feet  on  land  that  is  worth  $400  an 
acre,  and  the  other  foot  in  Mexico  on 
land  that  is  Worth  $4  an  acre.  The  soil 
is  the  same,  but  the  governments  are 
different.  We  have  a stable  representa- 
tive government  in  this  country — a 
government  of  law  and  liberty.  In 
Mexico  they  have  no  government  worthy 
of  the  name.  They  have  chaos,  disorder, 
no  security  and  no  safety  of  life  or  prop- 
erty and  nothing  that  can  be  called  a 
Republic  in  our  day.** 

— Senator  James  E.  Watson,  Indiana 


7 


Condemnation 

(The  following  are  extracts  from  editorials  m 
AMERICA^  the  Jesuit  weekly,  which  stands  alone 
in  the  ability  and  vigor  with  which  it  is  exposing  Red 
Mexico,) 

The  Mercier  of  Mexico 

Ten  years  ago  the  world  rang  with  plaudits  at  the 
name  of  Mercier  of  Mahnes.  Now  that  the  bitter- 
ness inseparable  from  the  clash  of  arms  has  died 
away,  it  may  be  said  that  even  in  the  Germany  of 
the  war  period  there  were  many  to  pay  tribute  to 
the  courage  of  the  great  Cardinal  and  intrepid 
citizen  who  stood  forth  without  fear  to  defend  the 
rights  of  his  beleaguered  countrymen. 

In  the  City  of  Mexico  there  is  a prelate  whose 
patriotism  ranks  him  with  Mercier  and  with  all 
heroes  who  have  dared  to  speak  the  truth  undis- 
mayed in  the  face  of  tyrants.  frail,  ascetic, 
gentle  old  man,  all  spirituality,”  as  the  New  York 
World  describes  him,  the  Most  Rev.  Jos6  Mora  y 
del  Rio,  Archbishop  of  the  City  of  Mexico,  shines 
out,  as  white  against  black,  in  contrast  with  the 
brutal  greed  and  tyranny  of  Calles  and  his  gang  of 
conspirators.  Only  his  mortal  tenement  is  frail. 
Love  of  justice  and  hatred  of  oppression  have  made 
his  spirit  invincible.  He  has  known  exile  from  his 
native  land,  and  has  lived  to  see  religion,  educa- 
tion, and  the  rights  of  his  countrymen  outraged 
in  the  name  of  ‘^progress”  and  ‘^hberty.”  But 
the  years  that  have  laid  their  burden  upon  him 
cannot  quench  his  undaunted  spirit,  nor  all  the 
force  that  passion  can  marshal  and  hypocrisy  in- 
flame, stop  him.  As  Mercier  in  Belgium  ten  years 
ago,  he  is  the  one  great  figure  in  the  world  today 
that  stands  with  Peter^s  Successor  to  vindicate 
against  the  assaults  of  tyranny  and  despotism  the 
rights  wherewith  man  has  been  clothed  by  his 
Creator. 


8 


Justice  Beyond  the  Rio  Grande 

The  Mexican  Government's  love  of  justice  is  exem- 
plified by  its  theft  of  all  church  property  in  Mexico. 
That  the  Government  does  not  interfere  in  the 
shghtest  degree  with  any  minister's  exercise  of  his 
caUing  is  proved  to  the  hilt  by  the  fact  that  he  is  not 
allowed  to  officiate  in  any  church  unless  by  signed 
statement  he  admits  that  the  Government  owns  the 
church  which  it  has  stolen. 

Therefore  no  Cathohc  priest  in  Mexico  can  offer 
the  Holy  Sacrifice,  preach,  or  administer  the  Sacra- 
ments in  any  church  in  Mexico  unless  he  signs  a 
statement  which  he  knows  to  be  a he. 

Right  and  wrong  are  not  a question  of  boundary 
fines.  Love  of  justice  and  a spirit  of  progress  are 
the  same  in  the  United  States  as  in  Mexico.  If  the 
State  of  New  York  were  to  declare  the  Cathedral 
of  St.  John  the  Divine  State  property  and  to  assure 
Bishop  Manning  that  he  would  be  permitted  to 
officiate  therein  on  condition  that  he  acquiesced 
in  the  theft,  we  should  have  an  exact  parallel  to 
what  is  now  happening  in  Mexico.  Suppose, 
further,  that  the  State  were  to  close  the  school 
attached  to  the  Cathedral  on  the  ground  that  its 
pupils  were  taught  the  precepts  of  religion  and 
morality.  Suppose  that  it  were  to  declare  Bishop 
Manning  incapable  of  inheriting  or  holding  property 
for  charitable  or  religious  purposes.  Suppose, 
finally,  that  it  were  to  deprive  him  of  the  right  to 
trial  by  jury  in  case  of  his  protest  against  these 
alleged  laws. 

Neither  Bishop  Manning,  nor  any  man  of  common 
sense,  would  view  this  program  as  an  indication  of 
^Jove  of  justice  and  a progressive  spirit,”  or  admit 
that  it  did  ^ffiot  interfere  in  the  slightest”  with  the 
liberty  of  Bishop  Manning  ^fin  the  exercise  of  his 
calling.” 


9 


How  Can  We  Help  in  Mexico? 

1.  We  may  succeed  by  repeated  efforts  in  per- 
suading general  public  opinion  and  ultimately  the 
Government  that  the  present  regime  in  Mexico  is 
not  worthy  of  our  friendship,  especially  because  of 
its  subversive  and  treacherous  economic  and  political 
tendencies.  To  this  end  the  excellent  booklet  of 
the  Knights  of  Columbus,  ‘^Ked  Mexico:  The 
Facts, will  help  mightily. 

2.  We  may  be  able  to  persuade  private  interests, 
and  through  them  our  Government,  that  there 
already  exists  in  Mexico  a very  strong  faction  which 
is  ready  to  recognize  all  property  and  other  natural 
rights,  and  which  is  worthy  of  their  support.  The 
facts  along  this  line  were  partially  revealed  two 
weeks  ago  in  Americans  article,  ^^The  Boycott  in 
Mexico.^'  It  is  here  that  the  hope  for  Mexico’s 
resurrection  really  hes. 

3.  We  can  help  keep  our  Mexican  friends  from 
being  discouraged,  by  our  moral  and  economic  help. 
If  we  can  estabhsh  closer  relations  with  them,  and 
we  can,  we  will  make  concrete  and  practical  our 
real  admiration  for  their  extreme  heroism.  WTiat- 
ever  may  have  been  true  in  the  past,  they  are  at  last 
really  and  truly  united,  and  what  is  more,  really 
and  truly  determined  to  fight  the  issue  out  to 
its  conclusion,  whatever  be  the  cost.  They  are 
maldng  tremendous  sacrifices,  and  the  least  we 
can  do  is  by  self-sacrifice  on  our  part  to  come  to  then- 
assistance  in  a struggle  which  intimately  concerns 
every  lover  of  freedom.  It  is  essential  that  the  fight 
be  kept  up  in  Mexico  until  the  American  part  of  the 
campaign  has  borne  fruit. 

The  major  activities  of  the  Mexican 
Bureau  of  Education  are  devoted  to  the 
spread  of  art  and  literature  against  the 
Catholic  Church.  Calles  knows  his  anti^ 
social  theories  cannot  succeed  until  the 
spirit  of  a people  is  destroyed.  Hence 
his  **campaign  of  education.** 


10 


The  Mexican  Minute  Man 

The  following  circulars  are  issued  by  the  National 
League  of  Defence  of  Religious  Freedom  and  dis- 
tributed among  the  people  of  Mexico,  much  to  the 
consternation  of  Calles  and  his  red  hordes.  The 
leaders  of  the  League  have  been  jailed  time  and 
again.  But  on  each  occasion  new  leaders  leap  into 
the  breach.  It  was  this  League  that  began  and 
organized  the  boycott  and  it  is  because  of  it  that  the 
boycott  is  so  tremendously  successful  today.  The 
circular  declaring  the  boycott  is  printed  in  full  below. 
It  is  an  historic  document.  It  shows,  the  fine  faith 
and  indomitable  courage  of  the  Catholics  of  Mexico. 

Christ  Lives 

Are  you  a Catholic?  Read  this  then!  If  you 
are  not  a Catholic  the  following  does  not  interest 
you. 

Men  who  are  not  cowards!  Women  who  are  not 
afraid  of  bombs,  prison  or  torture!  We  ask  them 
to  show  plainly  their  love  of  God  and  their  protest 
against  the  atrocities  decreed  against  our  religion 
by  wearing  some  religious  insignia. 

Catholics!  Nero  has  passed! 

Caligula  has  died! 

Diocletian  has  disappeared! 

And  thus  all  enemies  of  the  Church  will  end! 

Only  God  does  not  die;  nor  will  His  church  ever 
die! 

Christ  lives.  Christ  reigns.  Christ  rules. 


Circular  No.  2~A 

The  Executive  Committee  of  the  National 
League  for  defending  Religious  Freedom,  in  union 
with  National  Catholic  Organizations,  have  re- 
solved to  undertake  a campaign  in  the  whole 
country  against  the  enforcing  of  the  law  of  June  24 
of  this  year,  a law  issued  by  the  Executive  of  the 
Union  reforming  and  adding  to  the  Penal  Code. 


11 


The  purpose  of  this  campaign  is  to  create 
throughout  the  country  a state  of  intense  economic 
crisis  which  will  force  the  government  to  put  an 
end  to  the  situation  of  legal  oppression  in  which 
the  Catholic  church  of  our  country  is  living.  It 
vdll  be  a proof  of  how  the  civic  conscience,  well- 
disciplined,  can  figure  in  the  destiny  of  a people. 
Therefore  it  isnT  a question  of  acting  against 
certain  hostile  elements  only  but  of  creating  a 
general,  grave  situation,  paralyzing  as  much  as 
possible  the  social  and  economic  life  of  the  country. 

With  this  object  in  view  we  are  sending  out  the 
general  outline  of  the  action  planned,  with  the  un- 
derstanding that  this  outline  is  only  a delineation 
according  to  which,  in  each  locality,  will  be  for- 
mulated individual  programs  which  will  either  in- 
tensify or  restrict  the  points  indicated  according 
to  the  conditions  in  each  place,  without  losing  sight 
of  the  fact  that  it  is  a question  of  a drastic  measure 
and  of  the  exercise  of  the  right  of  legitimate  defense. 
Between  inaction  and  armed  action  there  is  an  inter- 
vening step,  i.c.,  civic  action.  That  is  the  one 
we  shall  adopt. 

Program  of  Action 

1.  From  July  31  of  the  present  year  and  while 
they  enforce  the  decree  issued  by  the  Executive 
of  the  Union  on  June  24,  a decree  which  reforms  and 
adds  to  the  Penal  Code,  the  inhabitants  of  Mexico 
who  love  liberty  will  work  out  a general  action  of 
defense  or  blockade  in  the  whole  country. 

2.  This  blockade  will  consist  of  paralyzing  the 
social  and  economic  fife  by  the  following  general 
means: 

A.  Abstaining  from  giving  news  and  buying 
those  newspapers  which  oppose  this  action 
and  do  not  give  it  their  help.  Silence  will  mean 
failure  to  help.  With  respect  to  the  newspapers 
of  the  City  of  Mexico,  no  action  will  be  taken 
against  them  except  by  special  resolve  of  the 
League. 


12 


B.  Abstaining  from  buying  things  not  abso- 
lutely needed  for  the  subsistence  of  each  day 
(for  example,  not  buying  articles  of  luxury  and, 
if  possible,  articles  of  clothing;  suppressing 
superfluous  things  such  as  delicacies,  fruits, 
ices,  refreshments,  etc.;  not  purchasing  any 
necessary  article  without  which  you  can  pos- 
sibly get  along). 

C.  The  most  rigid  care  possible  to  be  used 
in  not  hiring  vehicles,  especially  from  private 
individuals  and  when  absolutely  necessary,  to 
choose  the  cheapest. 

D.  Abstaining  from  attending  any  kind  of 
amusement  both  public  and  private  (theaters, 
moving  pictures,  dances,  drives,  etc.) 

E.  Limitation  on  the  use  of  electricity. 

F.  Total  abstaining  from  the  purchase  of 
lottery  tickets. 

G.  Total  abstaining  from  attending  laic 
schools. 

This  list  does  not  mean  that  they  are  to  keep 
from  using  other  means  of  the  same  kind  which 
they  judge  wise  in  each  locality  for  the  greatest 
efficacy  of  the  proposed  plan. 

3.  Every  person  loving  liberty  must  partake  in 
effective  propaganda  of  this  action  and  must  carry 
it  out  untiringly  and  energetically  against  all  who 
try  to  thwart  it  or  weaken  it. 

4.  According  to  the  circumstances  and  con- 
ditions in  each  place,  this  action  will  be  concen- 
trated against  the  interests  of  persons  or  groups 
who  are  enemies  of  hberty. 

These  severe  measures  must  not  cause  scruples 
or  consternation  since  it  is  a question  of  an  extreme 
case  of  life  or  death  for  the  Catholic  Church  in 
Mexico. 

This  action  has  been  fully  authorized  by  the  com- 
mittee of  the  venerable  national  Episcopate,  accord- 
ing to  the  text  of  the  following  letter: 

13 


Private  correspondence  of  the  Bishop  of  Tabasco. 

Mexico,  July  14,  1926. 

Messrs.  Lie.  Rafael  Ceniceros  y Villarreal,  Luis  G. 
Bustos,  Rene  Capistran  Garza. 

Dear  Sirs: 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Episcopal  Committee  on 
July  7th  we  discussed  the  letter  you  sent  us,  in  which 
you  asked  for  our  co-operation  in  authorizing  the 
pacific  campaign  called  Economic  Social  Blockade, 
which  the  National  League  for  Defense  of  Rehgious 
Freedom  will  undertake,  so  that  they  may  obtain 
the  repeal  of  laws  oppressive  to  said  freedom. 

Having  carefully  considered  your  plan,  we  think 
it  worthy  of  all  praise  with  respect  to  the  end  in 
view  as  well  as  the  orderly  and  peaceful  way  in 
which  it  will  be  brought  to  completion. 

We  are  with  you  in  this  work  for  recovering  the 
most  just  of  rights.  We  recommend  most  effi- 
caciously our  clergy  and  faithful  to  participate  as 
energetically  as  possible  in  such  a laudable  enter- 

Jose  Pascual 

Archbishop  of  Mexico  Bishop  of  Tabasco 

President  Secretary 

God  and  my  right 

Mexico,  D.  F.,  July  14,  1926. 

The  Executive  Committee 
R.  Ceniceros  y Villarreal  Rene  Capistran  Garza 
President  1st  Vice-President 

Luis  G.  Bustos 
2nd  Vice-President 


Thank  You,  Mr,  Calles 

We  Cathohes  have  a debt  of  gratitude  to  make 
pubhe. 

How  could  we  deny  the  good  fortune  which  has 
come  to  us  from  your  malevolent  persecution?  We 
must  acknowledge  that  it  is  you  (an  instrument  of 
God,  whom  He  has  moved  to  admirable  ends)  who 
have  served  Him  magnificently  for  His  greater 
14 


glory  as  no  missionary  has  done  in  Mexico.  For  that 
reason  we  thank  you. 

The  Union  of  Catholics,  difficult  to  have  organized 
before,  has  now  risen  to  such  heights  of  piety  and 
ardor  that  there  is  not  a heart  unmoved. 

The  most  difficult  and  unexpected  conversions 
have  been  made. 

Even  the  conduct  of  true  Catholics  has  been 
improved. 

Bad  Catholics,  hypocrites,  have  remained  away 
from  the  House  of  God. 

The  Church  has  proved  not  only  its  goodness  and 
wisdom  but  also  its  absolute  indifference  to  ma- 
terial things,  losing  with  a simple,  gentle  protest 
more  than  five  thousand  (5,000)  churches,  before 
yielding  one  single  point  of  its  august  and  severe 
code  of  honor. 

A Pentecostal  cloud  has  passed  over  our  nation. 
Unusual  evidences  of  heroic  courage  have  been 
given  by  men,  noble  women  and  young  girls,  whom 
you  have  imprisoned,  persecuting  them  for  defend- 
ing freedom  of  conscience  and  thought. 

You  wished  to  start  a revolution  to  eliminate  us 
by  means  of  arms.  We  have  proved  to  you  that 
the  Church  of  Christ  does  not  need  arms  to  con- 
quer. We  know,  that  in  the  struggle  we  are  under- 
going, those  who  are  attacking  us  are  not  enemies  in 
flesh  and  blood,  but  spirits  of  darkness  and  ig- 
norance. You  are  only  the  incentive  hurled  once 
more  at  the  Heart  of  Christ  like  the  lance  of  Longi- 
nus and  Christ  once  more  has  granted  mercy  through 
His  wounds. 

God  has  permitted  that  your  heart  be  turned  to 
stone  so  that  on  the  rock  of  your  breast  might  be 
raised  His  Throne  and  that  we  might  see  from  there 
how  Christ  conquers,  how  Christ  rules,  how  Christ 
reigns.  Seeing  that,  even  with  the  ridiculous 
demonstration  of  last  Sunday,  held  after  several 
weeks  of  religious  acts,  all  voluntary,  each  day 
bringing,  thi'ough  the  whole  Republic,  more  and 
15 


more  sacramental  confessions  until  they  were  of 
uncountable  millions,  each  day  bringing  more  fer- 
vent ones  and  those  overflowingwith  love  and  sorrow, 
you  gave  proof  that  you  were  absolutely  unpopular 
even  ammig  your  own  employees. 

The  proof  was  that  you  saw  yourseM  with  your 
alhed  CRQM  (the  red  labor  organization  backing 
0alles)  obliged  to  threaten  thousands  with  dis- 
missal in  order  to  obtain  even  a mediocre  attend- 
ance at  your  procession,  which  consisted  of  mute, 
silent,  ashamed  persons  who  traversed  the  streets 
more  in  sorrow  and  protest  than  as  enthusiastic 
followers  of  you. 


ORGANIZED  VILIFICATION 

Mexican  propagandists  in  the  U.  5.  are 
making  much  of  the  educational  pro-- 
gram  of  the  present  Calles  government. 
One  feature  of  this  program  is  the 
Governments  Library  Bureau,  which 
aims  to  supply  the  people  of  Mexico 
with  **suitable  reading.**  A Chilean 
author,  Gabriela  Mistral,  writing  in  El 
Universal,  of  July  12th,  a newspaper  pub- 
lished in  Mexico  City,  declares:  **One 
feature  in  the  Library  Bulletin  has  sur- 
prised me — the  inauguration  of  an  anti- 
Catholic  library.  One  of  the  great  dan- 
gers in  Mexico  is  the  possibility  of  a 
religious  war,  which  will  divide  the 
nation  hopelessly  and  be  a tremendous 
setback  to  its  progress.**  Thus  does 
Calles  educate  the  Mexican  people.  It  is 
a sorry  day  for  honor  and  justice  when 
a government  can  carry  on  organized 
vilification  under  the  banner  of  popular 
educ  ation. 


16 


Where  Bullets  Are  Ballots 

By  Plutarco  Quematovilla 

{There  are  still  some  innocent  people  who  believe 
that  Presidents  in  Mexico  are  ^^elecMP  These  are 
the  same  people  who  believe  that  Mexico  has  a constitu- 
tion. The  constitution  of  Mexico  is  a Soviet  military 
manual.  The  ^^elections  in  Mexico  are  holidays  for 
machine  gun  and  rifle  practice.  This  article^  written 
by  a leading  Mexican  jurist ^ is  a conservative  study 
of  how  Mexico  is  run.) 

The  first  obstacle  encountered  in  any  effort  to 
explain  Mexico^s  system  of  elections  to  the  people 
of  the  United  States  is  the  fact  that  there  is  a very 
pecuhar  state  of  mind  in  Mexico  on  the  subject  of 
elections,  a state  of  mind  not  readily  comprehensible 
to  people  in  the  United  States.  The  latter  have 
enjoyed  and  made  use  of  extensive  political  fiber  ties, 
and  only  with  difficulty  can  they  realize  the  extent 
of  the  anarchy  which  so  completely  dominates 
Mexico,  breaking  down  all  restraint  upon  those  in 
office,  so  far  as  respect  for  voting  rights  is  con- 
cerned, and  making  possible  an  absolute  dictatorship 
in  the  shadow  of  which  the  real  significance  of  the 
suffrage  has  quite  disappeared. 

It  is  not  easy  for  the  people  of  this  country  who 
sacrificed  so  much  blood  and  treasure  for  the  triiunph 
of  Democracy  in  the  World  War,  cherishing  the 
ideal  of  a w^orld  in  which  fife  could  go  on  free  of  all 
menace  from  brute  force,  to  analyze  little  by  little 
the  problems  of  Mexico,  and  at  length  to  perceive 
the  truth  regarding  that  afflicted  people,  among 
whom  every  step  towards  liberty  means  a new 
agony,  and  whose  every  aspiration  towards  a better 
fife,  for  the  individual  and  for  society,  seems  to 
draw  nearer  a veritable  martyrdom. 

In  theory,  the  government  of  Mexico  is  like  that 
of  the  United  States.  There  is  the  same  division 


17 


of  powers  and  system  of  checks  and  balances. 
There  is  a written  constitution,  wherein  provision  is 
made  for  its  own  modification  and  amendment. 
There  is  a president,  the  chief  of  the  executive 
branch;  a federal  congress,  comprising  two  cham- 
bers, and  a federal  judicial  branch.  It  is  contended 
that  we  have  complete  independence  between  these 
three  branches,  and  that  the  executive  has  to  respect 
the  decisions  of  the  legislature  and  judiciary;  the 
remark  is  often  made  that  Mexico  is  on  the  way  to 
have  what  in  the  United  States  is  called  ‘^govern- 
ment by  judges.” 

So  much  for  the  theory.  But  the  facts  are  quite 
different.  There  is  but  one  power.  It  is  that  of 
the  President  of  the  Republic,  the  federal  executive 
who  by  force  or  fraud,  has  appropriated  to  himself 
all  the  power  in  the  State.  One  will  alone  is  effec- 
tive, and  that  is  the  will  of  the  President,  brutally 
imposing  itself  on  those  of  others  and  riding  rough 
shod  over  all  notions  of  right  and  law.  The  Pres- 
ident has  no  respect  for  the  courts,  and  we  have 
had  such  examples  as  that  of  a Supreme  Court  deci- 
sion clearly  contradictory  with  all  the  preliminary 
interrogations  and  discussion  of  the  members  of  the 
court,  simply  because  the  President  had  indicated 
that  he  wanted  the  decision  made  as  a friend  of  his 
would  have  it.  Of  course,  servile  submission  on 
the  part  of  the  courts,  as  in  this  case,  makes  any 
guarantee  of  justice  quite  impossible. 

The  Legislative  Branch 

The  legislature  is  composed  for  the  most  part  of 
absolutely  ignorant  men.  Most  of  them  lack  any 
trace  of  Mexican  cultivation  or  university  training. 
Some  do  not  even  know  how  to  speak  Spanish  cor- 
rectly, and  use  the  language  of  the  gutters.  The 
single  aim  and  aspiration  of  the  legislators  is  to  hold 
down  the  seat  in  congress  so  as  to  receive  the 
monthly  pay  checks,  and  be  in  the  way  of  putting 
over  some  business  deals,  such  as  securing  conces- 


18 


sions  from  the  government  departments  and  selling 
them  for  httle  or  nothing  to  companies.  At  the 
present  time,  the  representatives  and  senators  are 
a parcel  of  illiterates,  well  paid  for  their  submission 
to  Calles,  quite  uninformed  on  the  subject  of  legis- 
lation, with  bits  of  sociology  picked  up  from  poorly 
translated  works  of  foreign  anarchists. 

Political  Parties 

In  Mexico  we  neither  have  pohtical  parties  nor 
can  parties  exist  inasmuch  as  they  would  block  and 
harass  a dictatorship  which  is  becoming  more  and 
more  untrammeled.  To  be  sure,  the  term  ‘^party’^ 
is  used  of  groups  that  have  proclaimed  as  their 
ideals  the  bolshevist  principles  of  the  Dictator  in 
an  effort  to  win  the  favor  of  the  latter,  so  as  to 
secure  all  the  public  posts,  and  wallow  in  contracts. 
There  is  no  distinctive  principle  in  such  organiza- 
tions, nor  can  any  candidate  whom  they  present  for 
a pubhc  post  dare  to  have  ideas  of  his  own.  If  a 
candidate  wishes  to  win,  he  has  to  support  the  pro- 
gram of  the  Dictator,  or  president  of  the  repubhc,  in 
whom  are  vested  in  point  of  fact,  the  legislative 
powers  of  the  government  as  well  as  those  of  the 
executive  and  judiciary.  There  are  no  real  parties, 
and  there  can  be  no  elections;  the  groups  which  call 
themselves  parties  are  lacking  in  all  the  character- 
istics which  are  associated  with  parties  under  the 
practice  of  public  law  and  in  democratic  countries. 

The  System  of  Elections 

Elections  are  carried  on  about  as  follows:  Can- 
didates set  forth  in  public  meetings  the  glories  of 
their  respective  brands  of  political  humbug  designed 
to  tickle  the  fancy  of  the  Dictator.  In  recent  years 
these  meetings  have  been  signalized  by  the  wildest 
sort  of  extravagant  praise  of  the  bolshevistic  theories 
which  could  only  represent  the  destruction  of  all 
moral  foundation  for  public  law  and  pubhc  order. 
Mexico^s  population  is  so  disiUusioned  in  conse- 
quence of  the  reign  of  falsehood  and  villainy  in 
19 


public  affairs  that  no  self-respecting  person  ever 
goes  near  a political  meeting. 

Of  course  the  government  hasn’t  the  slightest 
intention  of  allowing  elections  to  be  freely  conducted. 
A barrier  of  brute  force  shuts  out  the  independent 
voter.  The  ballot  boxes  are  surrounded  by  police 
and  government  agents.  If  an  independent  citizen 
manages  to  get  into  the  voting  room  at  all,  his  regis- 
tration is  likely  to  be  challenged,  or  no  ballot  is  left 
for  him,  or  failing  all  else,  his  ballot  is  destroyed  as 
soon  as  he  is  out  of  sight.  Hence  the  amazing 
^ ^unanimity”  that  so  frequently  characterizes 
Mexican  elections. 

I might  add  here  that  this  official  control  of  elec- 
tions was  not  invented  by  the  present  regime,  but  it 
has  been  much  more  viciously  exercised  by  the 
Russo-Levantine  clique  presided  over  by  oin*  Syrian 
Dictator;  and  inasmuch  as  these  self-appointed 
leaders  of  Mexico  talk  very  loudly  about  liberty 
and  freedom,  their  hypocrisy  is  much  greater  than 
that  of  the  older  regimes,  which  may  have  manipu- 
lated elections  dishonorably  enough,  but  had  at 
least  sufficient  sense  of  shame  to  be  silent  as  to  their 
views  on  the  inviolabihty  of  the  right  of  suffrage. 
But  it  is  a deplorable  fact  that  public  men  in  Mexico 
have  ever  felt  themselves  authorized  to  tamper 
with  the  ballot. 

The  Chamber  of  Deputies 

The  Deputies  represent  for  all  practical  purposes 
nobody  but  the  Dictator.  They  consist  of  two 
main  groups  bickering  with  each  other  for  the  favor 
of  the  ruler,  and  displaying  the  most  ignoble  passions 
and  invincible  ignorance.  There  is  nothing  to 
choose  between  them.  Yet  their  quarrels  with  each 
other  are  serious,  and  give  rise  to  astounding  frauds 
and  horrible  crimes  of  violence.  Sooner  or  later, 
however,  one  of  the  groups  shows  itself  superior  in 
violence,  and  secures  the  right  to  carry  the  Dictator’s 
flag  of  red  and  black. 


20 


The  Senate 

The  Senators  consist  principally  of  ex-govemors 
of  states,  or  some  of  the  innumerable  ‘‘generals” 
named  by  the  President.  But  they  are  all  figure- 
heads as  ignorant  and  uncivilized  as  the  Deputies, 
although  the  Senate  doesn^t  give  quite  as  terrifying 
an  impression  of  barbarity,  since  its  membership  is 
smaller  and  can^t  make  as  much  noise.  Revolvers 
are  less  frequently  drawn  in  the  Senate  Chamber 
than  in  that  of  the  Deputies. 

Such  are  the  two  chambers.  When  they  are  or- 
ganized, the  Dictator  sends  in  his  drafts  of  legislation 
for  rubber  stamped  ratification  or  enactment.  Now 
and  then  some  trifling  opposition  is  detected  in  the 
voice  of  a member  of  the  gang  that  lost  the  sti’uggle 
for  the  leadership.  At  once  the  Secretary  of  the 
Interior  undertakes  to  win  him  over  by  money  or 
other  means.  If  his  vote,  or  at  least  his  acquiescence 
cannot  be  won  thus,  he  is  served  with  a bracing  dish 
of  threats;  and  if  he  still  persists  (doubtless  because 
of  some  private  interest  that  is  involved),  he  is 
unfortunate  enough,  within  a day  or  two,  to  be  the 
victim  of  some  framed-up  street  row  or  of  some 
undisguised  assassination.  This  effectively  handled 
system  enables  the  Dictator  to  count  upon  uncon- 
ditional support  in  the  Chambers  for  all  that  he 
undertakes.  His  will  is  law. 

Are  There  Any  Elections  in  Mexico? 

We  do  not  have  elections  in  Mexico.  We  cannot 
have  them  so  long  as  we  have  a dictatorship,  for  we 
cannot  have  real  pohtical  parties  since  there  is  no 
free  judiciary  to  protect  the  inviolability  of  the 
ballot.  Fraud  and  force  are  allied  to  hold  us  in 
slavery.  In  the  United  States,  naturally,  people 
who  are  used  to  having  the  suffrage  guarded  from 
corruption  and  violence  cannot  understand  why  it 
is  that  the  Mexican  people  don^t  just  pour  into  the 
voting  rooms  and  overwhelm  the  corrupt  minority, 
I have  tried  to  describe.  But  it  is  because  they 
21 


never  really  knew  what  self-government  meant 
that  the  mass  of  Mexicans  have  always  looked  with 
such  apathy  upon  elections.  After  all,  they  feel, 
if  they  keep  out  of  it  they  have  httle  to  lose;  if  they 
get  mixed  up  in  the  mysteries  of  politics,  who  knows 
what  might  happen  to  them?  If  instead  of  univer- 
sal suffrage,  we  had  a distinctly  restricted  suffrage, 
possibly  the  minority  would  be  on  a better  footing 
to  cope  with  the  Dictator,  who  now  can  fabricate 
fictitious  majorities  of  hundreds  of  thousands 
whenever  he  needs  to  impress  newspaper  readers  in 
the  United  States  with  the  extent  of  his  popular 
support. 

The  Ministry  of  Pubhc  Instruction  has  a modern 
radio  service,  and  broadcasts  the  proceedings  of  the 
Chamber  of  Deputies.  Consequently  it  is  quite 
possible  for  any  family  possessing  a receiving  set  to 
pick  up  the  endless  round  of  insult  and  profanity 
which  characterizes  what  are  called  by  courtesy, 
^ ^debates. If  the  people  of  the  United  States 
were  for  one  hour  to  listen  to  what  we  Mexicans 
hear  day  in  and  day  out,  they  would  storm  the 
Capitol  at  Washington  and  throw  out  of  its  windows 
the  offending  culprits.  Last  year,  for  example, 
there  was  a ^^debate^’  one  day  over  the  unseating  of 
a deputy  who  had  shot  and  killed  a colleague  who 
had  used  extremely  provocative  language  to  him. 
One  of  the  Agrarian  leaders,  Caloca,  was  defending 
the  deputy  whose  expulsion  was  under  discussion. 
Caloca  proceeded,  in  his  defence,  to  use  language  so 
extremely  vile  that  aU  of  us  who  were  hstening  in 
at  the  time  were  obhged  to  protect  our  famihes  from 
hearing  such  things  by  immediately  tuning  out. 

Is  there  any  question  of  our  being  wholly  without 
the  rights  of  suffrage,  when  a system  which  produces 
such  shocking  conditions  can  go  on?  It  must  be 
clear  how  hopelessly  deprived  of  the  rights  of  the 
ballot  we.  are,  especially  that  portion  of  us  who  have 
institutions  like  religion  and  the  family  to  defend. 
And  if  space  allowed,  I could  recite  much  evidence  of 
22 


the  need  for  their  defence.  The  Bolshevism  of  Mos- 
cow is  given  full  sway  in  Mexico.  The  Ministry  of 
Public  Instruction  has  printed  and  distributed  mil- 
Hons  of  pamphlets  on  birth  control,  attacks  on  the 
clergy,  hes  about  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  so 
on.  On  the  official  presses  of  the  same  Ministry  are 
printed  the  books  of  the  Anti-clerical  Society,  whose 
president,  Amado  Aquirre,  was  formerly  secretary  of 
pubhc  works  and  communications.  I need  not  en- 
large upon  the  character  of  these  hbelous  books.  If 
space  allowed,  I could  also  tell  you  about  the  suborn- 
ing of  juries  and  the  ceaseless  reign  of  injustice  and 
fraud  which  disgraces  our  courts. 

May  the  great  and  hberty-loving  people  of  the 
United  States  be  patient  and  just  towards  the  Mex- 
ican population  who  are  so  cruelly  misrepresented  by 
the  band  of  criminals  intrenched  in  pubhc  office,  in- 
different to  all  moral  restraints,  ready, — in  the  name 
of  Satanic  hostility  to  a civihzation  they  neither  pos- 
sess nor  can  understand, — to  bring  down  their 
country  in  a heap  of  hopeless  ruins! 


THE  FACTS  ABOUT  MEXICO 

are  published  in  COLUMBIA.  The  truth 
about  Calles  communistic  regime  is  pre- 
sented in  clearly -written  articles,  pre- 
pared by  experts,  fully  authenticated. 

Subscription  is  open  to  everybody  and 
the  rate  is  one  dollar  a year. 

Address  subscriptions  to 

Circulation  Department 

COLUMBIA 
P.  O.  Drawer  1670 
New  Haven,  Conn. 


23 


The  Red  and  Black  Flag 

A few  years  ago  when  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor  officials  visited  Mexico  city,  they  were  dined 
and  wined  by  the  radical  leaders.  The  chief  host  was 
Calles.  In  his  address  of  welcome  to  the  delegates, 
he  declared:  ^We  are  the  men  who  have  come 
to  destroy  all  traditions  in  Mexico/'  He  has  tried 
since  to  live  up  to  his  boast.  But  he  has  stopped 
talking  much.  He  speaks  by  murder  and  plunder 
and  persecution.  But  now  and  then,  he  forgets 
himself  as  when  he  declared  a holiday  on  the  arrival 
of  Stanislaus  Petskovsky,  Soviet  Minister,  in  Mexico 
City,  or,  as  when,  on  his  visit  to  NewYork  in  October 
1924,  he  addressed  a Socialist  reception  to  himself 
at  the  Stuyvesant  High  School  Auditorium,  or,  as 
when  he  conferred  with  Soviet  emissaries  on  his  trip 
to  Europe  after  raising  himself  to  the  presidency  of 
Mexico.  He  has,  however,  his  apostles.  They  speak 
for  him.  There  is,  for  example,  one  Roberto  Haber- 
man,  reputedly  an  American  citizen,  who  appears 
constantly  in  the  press  as  his  defender.  Haberman 
is  an  anti-Catholic,  born  in  Rumania  of  Jewish 
parents.  It  was  this  Haberman  who  represented 
Calles  and  the  Mexican  Federation  of  Labor  at  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor  Convention  in 
Atlantic  City  in  1925.  It  was  he  who  then  said 
in  address  to  the  delegates:  ‘T  have  been  asked  by 
Brother  Plutarco  Elias  Calles  to  bring  to  you  his 
personal  greetings.  ...  We  believe  in  the  class 
struggle  in  Mexico,  we  believe  in  the  socialization 
of  the  means  of  production  and  distribution." 
Calles'  envoy  thus  announced  the  beginning  of  the 
red  regime  in  Mexico  which  has  since  written  itself 
in  blood.  Then,  there  is  Luis  Morones,  member  of 
the  Calles  cabinet  and  Calles'  first  lieutenant.  Six 
years  ago  this  Morones  led  a parade  of  radical 
Mexican  Federationists  through  Mexico  City  to 
the  Palace  and  the  nearby  Cathedral.  The  parade 
24 


concluded  in  an  enthusiastic  meeting.  Morones, 
addressing  this  meeting,  declared: 

^We  have  but  one  watchword — organization;  but 
one  purpose — the  destruction  of  the  capitalist  sys- 
tem and  all  it  stands  for;  but  one  flag — the  red 
flag  . . . His  speech  “was  drowned  out  by  the 
ringing  of  the  forty  immense  chimes  in  the  Cathedral 
and  the  vivas.”  (New  Y ork  Call,  October  18, 1920.) 

It  was  exactly  what  one  would  expect  from  Canes' 
comrade  in  this  present  attack  on  political  and 
religious  freedom.  One  little  correction  should  be 
made.  Morones  declared  they  had  but  one  flag, 
the  red  flag.  Calles'  official  flag,  however,  is  red  and 
black.  To  the  red  of  bolshevism  he  has  added  the 
black  of  piracy.  This  addition  of  black  is  easy  to 
imderstand  in  a man  who  has  joined  wholesale 
robbery  with  assassination,  and  pillage  with  politi- 
cal persecution. 


CALLES— FRIEND  OF  THE  POOR 

The  Red  Dictator  of  Mexico  has  a sense 
of  humor.  He  calls  himself  a friend  of 
the  poor.  His  sympathy  for  the  poor 
perishes  quickly  when  exposed  to  the 
truth.  The  Yaquis  are  poor,  Calles 
should,  therefore,  he  very  fond  of  them. 
He  showed  his  affection  by  robbing  them 
of  the  few  miserable  possessions  they 
had.  When  the  Yaquis  protested,  he 
organized  an  army,  sent  it  against  them 
to  kill  and  wound,  Calles  love  is  love 
comparable  to  that  of  Nero  for  the 
Christians,  Out  of  the  fulness  of  his 
heart,  Nero  gave  martyrdom  to  the 
faithful,  Calles  gives  persecution,  slav^ 
ery  and  death.  To  remove  poverty,  he 
kills  the  poor. 


25 


Mexico  *s  Broken  Pledge 

By  Raymond  G.  Carroll 

{Philadelphia  Public  Ledger,  September  7,  1926.) 

The  cornerstone  of  the  ^'Mexican  situation^’  has 
been  found. 

It  answers  rather  completely  the  current  attack 
upon  James  A.  Flaherty,  of  Philadelphia,  Supreme 
Knight  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  made  by 
Arturo  M.  Ehas,  consul  general  of  Mexico. 

The  finding  among  State  Department  papers 
consists  of  a solemn  pledge  given  by  the  Con- 
stitutionalist Government  of  Mexico,  at  its  birth, 
to  the  United  States  Government,  and  it  follows: 

^‘My  dear  Mr.  Lansing: 

* ^Complying  with  your  excellency’s  request  ask- 
ing me  what  is  the  attitude  of  the  Constitutionahst 
Government  in  regard  to  the  Cathohc  Church  in 
Mexico,  I have  the  honor  to  say  that  inasmuch  as 
the  re-establishment  of  peace  within  order  and  law 
is  the  purpose  of  the  government,  to  the  end  that 
all  the  inhabitants  of  Mexico  without  exception, 
whether  nationals  or  foreigners,  may  equally  enjoy 
the  benefits  of  true  justice  and  hence  take  interest 
in  co-operating  to  the  support  of  the  Government, 
the  laws  of  reform,  which  guarantee  individual 
freedom  of  worship  according  to  every  one’s  con- 
science, shall  be  strictly  observed. 

^Therefore,  the  Constitutionalist  Government 
will  respect  everybody’s  fife,  property  and  religious 
beliefs,  without  other  limitation  than  the  preserva- 
tion of  pubhc  order  and  the  observance  of  the 
institutions  in  accordance  with  the  laws  in  force 
and  the  constitution  of  the  Kepubhc. 

E.  ARREDONDO.’^ 

The  document  is  headed:  *^The  confidential  agent 
of  the  Constitutionalist  Government  of  Mexico  to 
the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States.”  It 
26 


bears  the  date  of  October  8,  1915,  and  the  records 
of  the  State  Department  show  that  the  foregoing 
pledge  was  the  actual  stepladder  that  brought 
about  the  recognition  of  the  so-called  Constitution- 
alist Government  exactly  eleven  days  later,  on 
October  19,  1915,  by  the  Government  of  the  United 
States. 

Mr.  Lansing  sent  out  two  official  documents 
announcing  the  favorable  decision  of  the  American 
Government.  One  was  a brief  statement  of  the  fact 
telegraphed  to  all  American  Embassies  and  Lega- 
tions throughout  the  world. 

The  other  was  a letter  sent  to  the  Ministers  at 
Washington  of  Venezuela,  Colombia,  Costa  Rica, 
Cuba,  the  Dominican  Republic,  Ecuador,  Haiti, 
Honduras,  Nicaragua,  Panama,  Paraguay,  Peru 
and  Salvador,  which  read  as  follows: 

^The  Ambassadors  of  Brazil,  Chile  and  Argen- 
tina and  the  Ministers  of  Bolivia,  Uruguay  and 
Guatemala,  who  have  been  in  conference  with  me  in 
regard  to  the  recognition  of  a Government  in 
Mexico,  will,  under  instructions  from  their  several 
Governments,  recognize  today  the  de  facto  Govern- 
ment of  Mexico,  of  which  General  Carranza  is  the 
Chief  Executive.  I am  conveying  to  you  this  infor- 
mation informally  at  the  instance  of  aU  the  members 
of  the  conference. 

U,  S.  Clearly  Responsible 

Thus  there  is  no  getting  away  from  American 
responsibility  in  the  setting  up  of  the  so-called 
Constitutionalist  Government.  It  actually  carried 
the  world  with  it. 

The  Mexican  Consul  General  Elias  seeks  to 
ignore  the  ^ ^Arredondo  pledge,^’  blot  out  its  memory 
and  efface  aU  responsibility  of  the  United  States  in 
what  goes  on  in  Mexico,  for  he  now  says  in  an  open 
letter: 

^Terhaps  some  day  Mr.  Flaherty  will  understand 
that  Presidents  of  Mexico  are  chosen  south  of  the 


27 


Rio  Grande  and  not  north  or  it.  Perhaps  he  will 
also  understand  that  Mexico  i»  a sovereign  Govern- 
ment, carrying  out  the  will  of  its  people  and  not 
changing  its  policy  according  to  the  amount  of  pres- 
sure exerted  from  outside. '' 

The  recognition  which  made  the  so-called  Con- 
stitutionalist Government  a ‘^goinr^  concern^  ^ 
among  the  nations  of  the  world  pivoted  largely 
upon  the  ^ ^Arredondo  pledge^*  of  individual  free- 
dom of  worship  according  to  every  one^s  conscience. 

Wilson  Gave  Aid 

The  so-called  Constitutionalist  Government  of 
Mexico  is  recognized  in  foreign  countries  as  the 
child  of  the  Wilson  administration,  which  lifted  the 
arms  embargo  February  3,  1914,  and  gave  other 
vital  aid  in  its  behalf. 

The  records  of  the  State  Department  and  what 
went  on  along  the  Rio  Grande  at  that  time  are 
doubly  familiar  to  the  writer,  who  was  in  Mexico  for 
the  early  haK  of  1915,  obtaining  first-hand  data  for 
a series  of  ten  articles  published  in  the  Public  Ledger 
commencing  August  15  of  that  year. 

The  anxiety  of  President  Wilson,  with  respect 
to  the  religious  aspects  of  the  Mexican  situation,  was 
recalled,  and  a search  made  for  the  “Arredondo 
pledge^’  resulted  in  its  discovery  in  the  State  De- 
partment records  today. 

Here  is  a supporting  letter,  also  found  in  the 
State  Department  records,  written  by  President 
Wilson  to  Cardinal  Gibbons  August  21,  1914: 

“My  dear  Cardinal  Gibbons: 

“Alas,  I am  sorry  to  say  that  it  is  not  true  that 
one  word  from  me  to  the  Constitutionalist  leaders 
would  have  a great  effect  and  would  relieve  the  sad 
condition  of  affairs  in  Mexico  with  regard  to  the 
treatment  of  priests,  for  I have  spoken  that  word 
again  and  again.  My  influence  will  continue  to 
be  exerted  in  that  direction  and,  I hope,  with  in- 
creasing effect.  For  the  present,  apparently,  we  shall 
28 


have  to  await  the  subsidence  of  the  passions  which 
have  been  generated  by  the  unhappy  condition 
of  the  country/' 

Influence  Exerted 

And  the  records  reveal  that  President  Wilson  did 
continue  to  exert  his  influence.  He  talked  matters 
over  with  his  Secretary  of  State,  Mr.  Bryan,  who 
seven  days  later  telegraphed  Vice  Consul  SiUiman 
at  Mexico  City: 

* ^Discreetly  inquire  of  General  Carranza  what 
his  future  attitude  will  be  toward  the  Brothers  of 
the  Christian  schools  (French  Brothers  of  the  Sacred 
Heart).  Department  understands  that  all  these 
schools  are  now  closed  and  orders  issued  for  the 
expulsion  of  the  brothers.  Ascertain  if  order  of  expul- 
sion will  be  revoked  and  schools  permitted  to  re- 
open." 

There  were  found  in  the  records  copies  of  many 
other  inquiries  of  a similar  character  bearing  upon 
the  religious  aspects  of  the  Mexican  situation. 

The  records  of  the  State  Department  show  that 
throughout  1914  and  into  1915  up  to  the  WTitten 
‘^Arredondo  pledge"  President  Wilson  held  off 
recognition  of  the  so-caUed  Constitutional  Govern- 
ment of  Mexico. 

It  was  this  pledge,  the  result  of  an  oral  conver- 
sation between  Senor  Arredondo  and  Mr.  Lansing, 
who  had  succeeded  Mr.  Bryan  as  Secretary  of  State 
June  9,  1915,  that  threw  down  the  last  obstacle  and 
paved  the  way  to  the  prompt  recognition  of  the  very 
Government  that  President  Calles  now  heads. 

Mexicans  who  are  under  the  impression  that  Mr. 
Coolidge  must  confine  his  official  interest  in  Mexico 
to  the  protection  of  American  oil,  mining  and  graz- 
ing interests  and  the  lives  and  properties  of  Ameri- 
can citizens  alone  and  completely  ignore  the  dark 
clouds  hanging  over  Catholic  Christians  there, 
according  to  reliable  information,  may  receive  some- 
thing in  the  nature  of  a severe  shock  before  long. 


29 


The  Mexican  Persecution, 

{From  the  pastoral  letter  of  Bishop  Schuler  of  El  Paso,) 
‘^The  ^Constitution/  that  magic  Sesame  of  justi- 
fication of  political  acts  and  crimes  of  politicians, 
has  received  its  measure  of  attention,  with  the  result 
that  very  influential  papers  have  stated  editorially 
and  have  proven  that:  (1)  The  Constitution  itself 
which  was  drawn  up  by  a group  of  revolutionists 
unauthorized  by  the  nation,  and  which  has  not  been 
submitted  to  the  nation  for  approval,  is  illegal;  (2) 
The  persecutor’s  election,  even  prescinding  from 
the  farce  of  the  elections,  is  constitutionally  illegal^ 
inasmuch  as  the  Constitution  exphcitly  forbids  the 
presidential  candidacy  to  any  person  who  has 
taken  active  part  in  the  overthrow  of  a government; 
(3)  The  action  of  Congress  in  giving  legislative  power 
to  the  persecutor,  who  already  had  the  executive 
power,  is  null  in  virtue  of  the  Constitution.  Sec- 
tions of  the  Constitution  which  would  deprive 
citizens  of  natural  and  inalienable  rights,  such,  for 
instance,  as  the  liberty  of  conscience,  are  invalid 
in  their  very  nature,  and  no  constitution  can 
change  them  or  make  them  obhgatory.  Therefore, 
they  conclude,  the  whole  persecution  is  illegal, 

‘^And  now,  after  a month  of  intensifled  persecu- 
tion, after  the  failure  of  the  bishops  to  bring  about 
an  understanding  and  a reasonable  settlement  of 
the  difficulties,  by  the  ehmination  of  the  imjust 
and  immoral  sections  of  the  Constitution,  and  the 
suppression  of  the  still  more  unjust  and  immoral 
apphcations  of  the  same,  we  find  the  persecutor 
threatening  to  take  stiU  more  drastic  measures 
to  enforce  ruthlessly  the  most  illegal  section  of  the 
entirely  illegal  Constitution.  Is  this  due  to  the  in- 
nate blind  stubbornness  of  the  persecutor, the  chagrin 
at  being  criticized  and  condemned  by  the  entire 
civilized  world,  or  is  it  one  more  instance  to  bear 
out  the  truth  of  Balmes’  observation,  that  a tyran- 
nical goverment  is  never  so  tyrannical  as  when  con- 
scious of  its  weakness,  it  feels  it  is  about  to  fall?’* 


A Provocative  Situation, 

{From  the  St,  Paul  Pioneer  Press,  Sept,  18, 1926,) 
Another  American  life  snuffed  out  in  Mexi- 
co; another  name  added  to  the  long  roll  of  Ameri- 
cans murdered  by  bandits  in  that  unsettled  coun- 
try. A retired  New  York  business-man,  Jacob 
Rosenthal,  was  kidnapped  Sunday  within  forty 
miles  of  Mexico  City  and  held  for  ransom.  When 
troops  sent  in  pursuit  approached  the  bandits, 
they  stabbed  the  captive  to  death. 

The  terrain,  ethnic  backgroimd  and  chronic 
political  unrest  of  Mexico  make  it  difficult  to 
suppress  banditry;  but  the  first  duty  of  gov- 
ernment is  to  insure  the  safety  of  fife  and  prop- 
erty, as  well  of  foreigners  as  of  its  own  nationals. 
This  has  not  been  done  in  Mexico.  While  the 
Calles  govemrhent  professes  to  be  friendly  dis- 
posed to  the  United  States,  American  fives  con- 
tinue to  be  taken  and  American  property  and 
{ property  rights  placed  in  jeopardy.  Over  500 
Americans  are  said  to  have  been  killed  in  the 
neighboring  republic  during  the  past  decade  or 
so.  What  motive,  if  any,  was  behind  the  decision 
of  the  Mexican  commander  to  capture  the  bandits 
and  ransom  Mr.  Rosenthal  later,  which  w^as  a 
reversal  of  the  customary  practice,  we  are  not  in 
a position  to  know.  The  fact  remains  that  the 
JMexican  government  has  added  another  American 
to  the  fist  it  has  failed  to  protect  against  domestic 
lawlessness;  and  each  name  added  to  that  fist 
makes  it  more  difficult  for  the  Administration  to 
resist  the  demand  that  the  United  States  take 
drastic  measures  against  Mexico. 

**Th.e  North  American  continent,  dedi- 
cated to  freedom,  should  he  the  last  place 
on  earth  for  intolerance  to  find  lodge- 
mentJ* 

•—The  Cleveland  Plain  Dealer 


31 


$1,000,000 

FOR  CIVILIZATION 


The  Knights  of  Columbus  is 
raising  one  million  dollars  to  com- 
bat Bolshevism.  The  opposing 
forces  of  barbarism  and  civilization, 
of  communism  and  individual  lib- 
erty, of  materialism  and  religion, 
are  coming  to  grips.  The  lovers  of 
right  and  freedom  must  imite  if  the 
world  is  to  be  saved  for  tolerant  and 
free  and  wholesome  living.  Con- 
tributions to  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus ftmd  should  be  made  out  to  the 
Knights  of  Columbus  Mexican  Ftmd. 

Knights  of  Columbus  will  con- 
tribute to  this  great  campaign.  But 
it  is  the  aim  of  the  Order  to  give 
non-Knights  and  non-Catholics  op- 
portunity to  subscribe.  Members 
of  the  Order  will  help  by  bringing 
this  opportunity  to  the  attention  of 
all  lovers  of  religion  and  humanity 
and  freedom. 


WASHINGTON  PRESS 
BOSTON.  MASS. 


